Drilling holes in glass

[Norman Verona]

I have two huge windows in the new porch. They're double glazed but the seals have gone.

I want to drill a hole in each so as to create a vacuum with a vacuum cleaner. They both have moisture and I would like to clear it.

So, any ideas how to drill a small hole in a huge glass window?

Thanks

[bhouse]

Oh dear god no. I can see where this is going...

[Marto303]

I've got an automatic centre punch you can borrow before you drill 

[bhouse]

Hang on. 

If you do manage to create a hole and couple a vacuum cleaner to it, won't it simply try to create a vacuum in the space? Given that glass is pretty flexible I wouldn't be surprised if the sheets of glass simply bent so they touched. As soon as you release the vacuum they'll spring apart, sucking in more damp air. Back to square one. But with a hole in one of the panes.

[iain m]

Behind the perforated trim between the glass there are moisture absorbing crystals, if the door/window is over 15 years old they are probably no longer working. You can replace the glass only without the cost of a new window. If you do decide to dril which may reduce the moisture wear protective clothing and a perhaps a crash helmet.  

[FILFAN]

Blow torch and a nail

[User0083]

Drill a small hole, pour in silica gel!

However I have been told a cotton wool bud works well!!!

[BEN99W]

Drill the hole at the top then fill the space with water. That will stop it steaming up

Ben

[Norman Verona]

You won't bend this glass, they're huge patio doors. Took the engine crane to lift them in.

 

Looks like I'll have to give up on that idea. 

 

Unless someone knows how to drill a hole in glass. I was going to fit a tube with a rubber sleeve into the hole then make an adaptor to fit the vacuum nozzle. Once I get the moisture out I doubt it will come back. The two windows have bee outside for 5 years and inside for at least 5 before that.

[ajpearson]

You can buy specialist drills bits for drilling glass Norm, I drilled a mirror recently with one.

[User0083]

On a serious note, however not sure if it'll help, a mate had his double glazing condensate and small puddle of water in the bottom. They used a heat gun to heat it all up, I think he used soapy water to find a leak in the rubber, then sealed it with a puncture repair kit off a push bike.

Window was 2-3 foot wide and 4-5 foot high.

I moved shortly after he did it, so not sure how it ended up.

[FILFAN]

If you do drill it please please please film it

[ajpearson]

Here you go Norm, not the best bits of kits but to give you an idea

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=glass+drill+bit&sprefix=glass+drill%2Caps%2C225

[SootySport]

Most of us just go and buy a replacement double glazed unit, no, not Norman he has too much thinking time.

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

If the glass is in doors as you say, it should be toughened in which case you cant drill it!

I have drilled annealed glass in the past, you need a special glass drill,

make a small doughnut out of putty and place it around where you intend to drill, fill the doughnut with linseed oil as a lubricant and away you go,

just dont press on too hard

But why drill the glass? just drill the spacer in between the two layers with an ordinary HSS drill, then get sucking